Welcome to this edition of the Fifth District Report, an electronic newsletter keeping you updated about the events taking place in Orange County and in the Fifth District. It is my hope that you find this distribution informative and I would encourage you to contact me regarding any thoughts, comments, or concerns you may have.

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors approved agreements with private agencies to provide homeless prevention and rapid re-housing services. Earlier this year, the County received $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This money is specifically designated to assist in preventing and reducing homelessness. The County directs this money to private agencies, like the Friendship Shelter, that have had a successful track record in combating homelessness. In turning these funds over to the private sector, we are acknowledging the significant role that private charities play in helping those in need. Government can never replace the good work that is done when the community helps its neighbors.

Fourth Quarter Budget Report

At Tuesday’s meeting, the County’s Budget Officer presented the FY 2008-09 Fourth Quarter Budget Report to the Board. The report outlines economic impacts to the County budget, budget reductions taken and the current County cash flow status. Next month, the Board will begin evaluating the 2009-2010 Strategic Financial Plan. To view the Fourth Quarter Budget Report power point presentation, please click here.

Moulton Parkway Widening

The Board awarded a construction contract for the second segment of the Moulton Niguel Parkway widening project. This segment of the project will include additional turning lanes at the Santa Maria Avenue and Ridge Route Drive intersections, continuous bike lanes and sidewalks, Americans with Disabilities Act compliant curb ramps and driveways, drainage improvements, concrete retaining walls, new signing and striping, modifications to existing traffic signals and landscape and irrigation improvements. The construction is planned to take place during the night in order to minimize traffic impacts during the construction. The contract was awarded to Ortiz Enterprises, the lowest bidder on this project.

Orange County Planning Commission

The Board of Supervisors approved my request to appoint Elizabeth Hall of Ladera Ranch to serve as the Fifth District representative to the Orange County Planning Commission. Elizabeth will be filling the vacancy that was left when the previous commissioner, Susan Ritschel, resigned to pursue a career in nursing. Elizabeth has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Brown University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Connecticut, School of Law. Elizabeth brings with her many years of professional, civic and community experience and commitment and I believe she will represent the interests of the Fifth District very well. I am looking forward to working with Elizabeth in this new capacity and I extend my best wishes to Susan on her future endeavors.

TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

Outreach Continues on 241 Completion

The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) is continuing an extensive research effort with stakeholder groups and individuals to seek input on solutions to traffic congestion in our region.

The initiative was launched following the December, 2008 decision of the U.S. Department of Commerce, which disagreed with the preferred route for 241 Toll Road completion. The Foothill/Eastern Board of Directors decided to gather further input from a wide range of stakeholders, including residents, elected officials, regulatory agencies and groups opposed to the route considered by the Commerce Department.

So far, the TCA has had more than 80 meetings seeking information and ideas for reducing future gridlock. There is consensus that traffic is severe and that there needs to be a solution, echoing the recently released Texas Transportation Institute 2009 Urban Mobility Report, which found that Southern California motorists wasted an average of 70 hours in traffic in 2007. Forty-two percent of the trips on I-5 at the Orange County/San Diego County line are traveling through Orange County, so relieving traffic congestion on I-5 directly benefits regional mobility and air quality. I will continue to provide updates on the TCA’s outreach efforts as they progress.

Bus Service Reductions

Due to the loss of state funding and declining sales tax revenue, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) will be making significant reductions to bus service in March, 2010. All routes throughout the system may be affected.

OCTA has begun conducting public outreach for the March, 2010 service reduction. Background information on the proposed service reduction techniques and the potential approaches the Board may take to make service reductions is available to the public in a booklet entitled, March 2010 Bus Service Reduction Strategies. To view the booklet, please click here.

OCTA is also hosting a community meeting in South Orange County to inform the public about the March, 2010 bus service reduction options the Board will be considering. The meeting will take place Thursday, October 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Laguna Hills Community Center in Heritage Rooms B & C. For more information about the meeting, please click here.

Caltrans Freeway Connector Closures

From September 29 through October 3 2009, the South SR-55 connector to the South I-405 / John Wayne Airport entrance will be closed daily from midnight to 5:00 a.m. for Caltrans pavement work. The closure will re-occur nightly from October 5 through October 10, 2009. Please be prepared to utilize alternate routes to drive to John Wayne Airport when traveling southbound on the 55 freeway.

DISASTER READINESS, RESPONSE & RECOVERY

South County Disaster Expo

Nearly 8 out of 10 people in OC are not prepared for a major disaster. It’s time to Get ReadyOC! Join me on Saturday, October 17 for the Second Annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo in Mission Viejo.

The Expo will feature emergency preparedness booths with informative, interactive displays to teach residents how to adequately prepare for a large scale disaster and the resources available during disaster responses. Several response vehicles will be on site, including the new helicopters from the OC Fire Authority. Other planned activities include moulage applications to simulate injuries and CPR demonstrations for both humans and pets. The event will take place at the Norman P. Murray Community & Senior Center from 9:00 a.m. to noon. For more information, please visit my website at http://bos.ocgov.com/expo.

Orange County Fire Authority Open Houses

The public is invited to meet local firefighters and learn about fire prevention strategies during two community events in October. The OC Fire Authority is hosting its 4th Annual Open House from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3 at the OCFA Headquarters located at 1 Fire Authority Road in Irvine. Additionally, on Saturday, October 10, the Mission Viejo fire station will hold a special open house that will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Fire Station 24, located at 25862 Marguerite Parkway. These events will include activities and demonstrations for all ages. Visitors will learn how to protect their families and homes through OCFA’s “Ready!, Set!, Go!” program. For more information, visit www.ocfa.org or call (714) 573-6200.

SOUTH COUNTY NEWS

Orange County International Triathlon

The Orange County International Triathlon, which is designated as a "Best of the U.S." course for amateur triathlete competitions, will be held this Sunday at Lake Mission Viejo. The event benefits the Mission Viejo Nadadores swiming club and the Saddleback Valley YMCA. The race will consist of a one-mile swim in the lake, a 25-mile bike ride and a 10K run. The event will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. For a the schedule of events and information on road closures, please click here.

Submit Photos for Mission Viejo’s Parkway Gallery

The City of Mission Viejo has extended its deadline for residents interested in submitting their artwork to be displayed in Mission Viejo’s new “Parkway Gallery,” Orange County’s first art gallery enjoyable by car. Photos capturing “the spirit of thankfulness and caring” are now due by Friday, October 15. The City’s Cultural Arts Commission will review the submitted work and select the winning photographs that will be displayed through the holiday season. For more information, visit www.cityofmissionviejo.org or call (949) 470-3061.

COUNTY CONNECTIONS

72nd Assembly District Special Primary Election

The Registrar of Voters announced Tuesday that the candidate filing period for the 72nd State Assembly District Special Primary Election is now open and will be open until October 5, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. The Primary Election will be held on November 17, 2009, which is 8 weeks prior to the scheduled Special General Election.

Any qualified person can file the declaration of candidacy papers until the deadline in the office of the Registrar of Voters, located at 1300-C South Grand Avenue , Santa Ana. Business hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, please visit www.ocvote.com or call the Registrar of Voters office at (714) 567-7600.

Voter Registration Verification Now Available Online

Some of the most common questions received by the Registrar of Voters (ROV) have to do with voter registration. This week, the ROV launched a new feature on its website that allows voters to get answers to their registration questions quickly and privately.

Citizens can view their current registration status by visiting www.ocvote.com/verify. Users will be prompted to enter their date of birth and the last four digits of their driver license number. The voter's current registration information will then display, which includes their name, address, registration date, date of birth and the status of their registration. Voters can also see if they are listed as a permanent vote-by-mail voter. For more information, please visit www.ocvote.com.

FIFTH DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT

Martial Arts School Helps Charity

The Orange County School of Martial Arts in Rancho Santa Margarita recently held its Grand Opening ceremony which included a board break for charity contest. Visitors were able to pay for the opportunity to break a board with their hands or feet. Proceeds from the contest went to Laura’s House, a Ladera Ranch-based charity that provides support for victims of domestic violence. The owner of the school said the ideals of his martial arts school and the ideals of Laura’s House have a lot in common: self-confidence, courage and empowerment.

HARBOR HAPPENINGS

Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Project

The California Coastal Commission (CCC) will hold a public hearing and take action on a request by the City of Dana Point to amend the Local Coastal Program Land Use Plan (LCPA) to incorporate the proposed Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan on Thursday, October 8 at the Oceanside City Council Chambers. Any member of the public wishing to offer input on the project is encouraged to attend and speak. The hearing on the Harbor’s Revitalization Plan will take place as the last item on the October 7 agenda (Topic 22a). Click here to view the full CCC agenda. For more information about the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Plan, please click here.

CRITTER CHRONICLES

Find Lost Pets Online

Help in finding a lost pet is just a mouse click away by searching the OC Animal Care database online. The animals listed on the website have been found by Orange County Animal Care and are currently located at the OC Animal Care Center. If you have lost your pet, please click here to look through the list.

HEALTH HERALD

Family Day

The Prevention Coalitions of Orange County (PCOC) and the Orange County Health Care Agency are joining forces with the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) in an annual celebration of Family Day – A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children™ on Monday, September 28 as part of the continuing effort to prevent substance abuse among children and teens.

Launched in 2001, Family Day is a movement that encourages parents to frequently eat dinner with their kids and be involved in their children’s lives. It is also a day that helps to remind busy families of the invaluable role that parental involvement plays in steering children and teens away from cigarettes, drugs and alcohol. Research conducted by CASA consistently shows that the more often children eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs.

For more information on local Family Day activities, contact the Orange County Health Care Agency Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention Team (ADEPT), at (714) 834-2094. For more information on the national observance of Family Day, visit www.CASAFamilyDay.org.

ENVIRONMENTAL MEMOS

Ladera Ranch Wins National Irrigation Design Award

Since the first stages of development of the Ladera Ranch community, Rancho Mission Viejo and a full-service consulting firm, Water Concern, have worked together to synergize aesthetic value and water resource conservation to promote an environmental balance for the community. Water Concern has recently received recognition for its innovative design for Ladera Ranch’s landscape watering needs.

The project captures residential urban runoff and rainfall flows in a 2.4-mile-long centralized wetland stream system, called the Sienna Botanica, where aquatic flora reduce pollutants from the water. The innovative technology implemented in Ladera Ranch is estimated to save hundreds of millions of gallons of water per year. For more information, please click here.

Energy Saving Tips

While we’re currently experiencing hotter than usual temperatures, San Diego Gas & Electric would like to remind residents and businesses to conserve energy. Here are some useful tips that will not only save on energy consumption, but will also save you money as well:

Turn off or set office equipment to power down when not in use

Reduce lighting where possible

Seal off unused areas and reduce or eliminate heating or cooling in these spaces

When using your cooling system, keep exterior doors closed as much as possible to keep the cool air inside

At the end of the day, turn off all energy-consuming devices (lights, kitchen equipment, computers, monitors, printers, copiers, plotters, etc.)

Make this Friday, September 25 a magical night by visiting the Crown Valley Community Park in Laguna Niguel where David Herblin will enchant viewers with the science behind magic! Uncover the mystery behind your favorite magic tricks and learn a few tricks to keep your sleeve. The show starts at 7:00 p.m. and combines magic, humor and theatre to entertain and educate all ages. For more information, visit the City of Laguna Niguel’s website by clicking here.

San Clemente Historical Copper Exhibit

Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens will be displaying “Gregorian Copper: A San Clemente Family’s Story, 1948-1975” through November 8, 2009. This exhibit features a collection of decorative and useful copper works from the Gregori family's nearly 30-year production of copper pieces in San Clemente. For more information, please visit www.casaromantica.org.

Fine Arts Festival

This Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, Ranch Santa Margarita Landscape and Recreation Corporation and West Coast Artists are hosting the Santa Margarita Fine Arts Festival at the Bell Tower Community Center. The festival will showcase artists from all over Southern California. Guests will also have the opportunity to create their own masterpieces like hand made jewelry, blown-glass, stained glass, pottery, and other crafts. The event, which will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days, is free to the public. For more information, visit www.westcoastartists.com.

Shea Center Family BBQ and Country Faire

Grab your cowboy boots and your appetite this Saturday, September 26 because the J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center in San Juan Capistrano will be hosting a Western rodeo complete with silent and live auctions, a delicious BBQ dinner provided by Claim Jumper Restaurants, live music and dancing, riding demonstrations performed by Shea Center riders and games and fun for the whole family. The event is from 4:00 p.m. until 9:30pm. For more information on purchasing tickets and the location, please click here or call (949) 240-8441.

Aliso Viejo Founder’s Day Fair

The City of Aliso Viejo is hosting its annual Founder's Day Fair on Saturday, September 26 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This special "Day at the Ranch" includes live entertainment, a water balloon launch, games, demonstrations, gold panning, pony rides and much more. The event will take place at the 7-acre Aliso Viejo Ranch located at 100 Park Avenue. Admission is free. For more information, please visit www.cityofalisoviejo.com.

FIFTH DISTRICT WRAP-UP

In addition to my many meetings, briefings, and other supervisorial activities, I also: